Combined grain-drill and fertilizer-distributer



2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

(No Model.)

B. D. MEAD. COMBINED GRAIN DRILL AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

No. 455,048. Patented June 30,1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheetg-Sheet 2.

E. D. MEAD. GOMBIN-ED GRAIN DRILL AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

No. 455,048 Patented June 30,1891.

?.El M Y m: norms PETERS 00., mam-mum, wAsmNGYuu n c UNITED STAT SPATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN D. MEAD, or SHORTSVILLE, NEW YORK.

COMBINED GRAIN-DRILL AND FERTILIZE R-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,048 dated June 30,1891.

Application filed November 10, 1890. Serial No. 370,913. .(No model.)

To all whmn it Duty concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN D. MEAD, acitizen of the United States,residing at Shortsville, in the county of Ontario and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Grain-Drills and Fertilizer-Distributers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to combined graindrills andfertilizer-distributers; and it consists in various features and detailshereinafterfully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly inelevation, of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a view of a portion of thesupporting frame-work looking at it from the opposite side from Fig. 1.Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detailed views representing the construction ofthe force-feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is a top plan view, with some of theparts removed, of the fertilizer-distributer; and Fig.7 a sectional viewof the same on the line as so of Fig. 6.

A indicates the hopper of the machine, which is divided into twoseparate compartments A A by means of a partition A Into the open bottomof the chamber A isfitted a plate or casting B, which is shown in Figs.6 and 7, comprises an open rectangular frame B, a depending annularflange or rim B and an inwardly-projecting radial arm B carrying-at itsinner end a depending flange B forming about a half of a circle. At theinner end of the arm 13 there is a hole or opening B through whichprojects the stem B of the scraper or agitator B The arm B is providedon its forward end with a curved lug or lip B and near its outer end,upon its under face, with a socket B which is adapted to receive andsupport the axis or journal 0 of the cut-off gate 0, as clearly shown inFigs. 6 and '7, the axis or journal of the cut-off gate being extendedoutward and upwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to work over a scale(not shown) usually carried by the machine, so as to indicate theposition or adjustment of the gate.

Upon the under side of the arm B is a downwardly-projecting lug D, whichforms a journal for an inverted-cup-shaped wheel E, which has its rim oredge toothed ornotehed, as shown in Fig. 1, the teeth or notches aengaging with similar teeth or notches Z), formed around a centraldischarge-opening c in the rotatable disk or plate F, forming the bottomof the distributer.

The plate F is provided with an upturned edge or rim (1, which encirclesthe lower edge of the downwardly-projecting annular flange or rim B asshown in Fig. 1, and the said plate is further provided with a cross-baror support .6, to receive the lower end of the stem B of the scraper BRotary motion is imparted to the plate F by means of a shaft G, which isprovided with a gear-wheel G, adapt ed to m esh with the teeth G formedupon the under side of the plate or disk, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andas is common in this class of machines. This gear-wheel G is providedwith a hollow hub f, having one or more holes or openings g, in linewith each other and approximately at right angles to two lugs 71, formedon the inside of the hub. as shown in Fig. 2. A pin t', passing throughthe shaft G, engages the lugs and thereby locks the pinion and shafttogether and causes them to turn in unison. When it is desired to detachthe pinion from the shaft, the latter is turned until the pin 1 comes inline with the slots or openings g, whereupon the pin maybe driven out ofits seat in the shaft and out through the hub of the pinion.

The material which is placed within the hopper or compartment A restsupon that portion of the plate F between the flanges B and B and as theplate is turned or rotated horizontally the material will be carriedunder the gate or cut-off C, where it will be taken hold of by theinverted-cup-shaped wheel E, which latter draws the material inwardbeneath the arm B and causes it to pass down through thedischarge-opening 0 into the spout G It will be noticed upon referenceto Fig. 6 that the cut-off or gate is set in advance of theinverted-cup-shaped wheel and covers the whole width of the channelformed between the flanges B and B thereby regulating more perfectly thequantity of material to be discharged and serving to effectually preventthe said material from running out when the machine is not in operation.ticed upon reference to Fig. 1 that the teeth upon the feed wheel orplate F are located a IOO It will also be no-' considerable distancefrom the center, and that the teeth for imparting motion to theinverted-cup-shaped wheel are located comparatively near the center,thereby increasing 5 the power of the driving-pinion and also the powerof the gearing for rotating the invertedcup-shaped wheel. Anotherdifliculty in this class of machines lies in the fact that thephosphates are liable to become set, and this I is overcome to a greatextent by providing the rotatable disk or plate F with a flange (1,which loosely encircles the downwardly projecting rim or flange B of theplate 13. The lower edge or rim of the plate B rests upon I the upperface of the rotatable plate or disk F, and while preventing the escapeof material at the edge it does not bear with sufficient force to retardthe rotation of the plate. The lower edge of the downwardly-projectin grim or flange B where it rests upon the rotatable plate or disk F ismade thin or narrow, so that it presents such a small surface as topractically preclude the fertilizing material rusting the parts togetherand retarding the rotation of the plate. The spout G communicates withthe spout Gr extending downward from the force feed mechanism, asclearly shown in Fig. 1. This spout Gr is formed upon the lower end of acasting H,

0 forming a part of the supporting frame-work and hopper for theforce-feed mechanism, and is bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to theopen bottom of the hopper-chamber A, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

3 5 Journaled in the cup, casting, or frame llis a feed-wheel I, whichhas an inclined rim I roughened or serrated or provided with teeth orribs, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The material, as it passes down intothe contracted 4o throat or opening J, Figs. 3 and 5, falls against therim of the wheel or disk I, and is carried by said wheel or diskdownward and then slightly upward, where it is taken hold of by a secondwheel or toothed disk K, (shown in in Fig. 3,) and by the latterdelivered into the discharge-spout G".

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the use of thescattering wheel or disk K to the particular distributer herein shown,as it is applicable to many other styles of distributers operating uponsubstantially the same principle.

In order to regulate the amount of material passing rhrough the throatJ, I employ a 5 5 pivoted cut-off or gate L, which is adapted to swingfrom a center or pivot located in advance of the center of the feed-diskI.

The cutoff gate is substantially U-shaped, and is provided 011 its freearm with teeth or cogs L, which are adapted to mesh with a pinion Ljournaled in the frame or casting II, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Byturning or rotating the pinion the gate or cut off L, which forms, ineffect, a continuation of the 6 5 throat or channel J, may be movednearer to or farther from the opposite wall of the throat or opening I,and thereby contract or widen the latter, so as to accurately regulatethe amount of material which shall pass therelhrongh. 7

In order to make a compact device and yet permit of the desiredadjustment, I form the the teeth or cogs L upon an arm, which is setaway a short distance from the main body of the cut-off or gate L, asshown in Fig. 5, and allow the toothed portion of the cut-oif to projectoutside of the throat or opening J, as clearly shown in Fig.

There will be attached to the shaft of the pinion L an arm adapted tomove over a graduated scale or index, so as to indicate to the operatorthe adjustment of the gate.

The peculiar construction and arrangement of the gate or cut-off L giveme a uniform discharge under all adjustments and 8; all kinds of grains,which in prior devices has to a considerable extent been impracticable.

It will be noticed upon reference to Figs.

3 and 5 that after the grain passes the naro row part of the throat oropening it is released from pressure in the horizontal portion of thechannel.

Vhile the two devices applied, respectively, to the bottoms of thechambers A and A are 9 5 designed primarily for joint operation, theymay nevertheless be operated independently of each other.

I have not shown and described in detail the arrangement of gearing forimparting motion to the respective parts of the different feedingdevices, as there is nothing novel in the gearing.

Having thus described my invent ion,what I claim is- 1. In combinationwith the plate or casting B, having the downwardly-projecting rim B theplate F, provided with teeth upon its lower face, and provided, also,with a central discharge-opening o and teeth 1) around said opening, aninverted-cup shaped wheel. E, toothed, as at a, to engage the teeth 1)upon the upper face of the disk or plate F, and means for rotating theplate.

2. In combination with the plate or casting B, having the arm B anddownwardly-projecting lug D,the rotatable plate F, provided with acentral discharge-opening, and the inverted-cupshaped wheel E, journaledupon the stud D and adapted to receive motion from the plate or disk F.

3. In combination with the plate or casting B, having the horizontalarms or flanges B, the depending flanges B and B, separated as shown,the central discharge-opening B in the arm B the rotatable plate or diskF, provided with a central discharge-opening c, and a cross-bar e, ascraper 13", having a stem B projecting downward through the opening Band supported by the crossbar e, and means for rotating the plate ordisk F, and the cup shaped wheel E resting thereon.

4. In combination with plate or casting 13, having the arm B the cut-offor gate C, having its shaft or axis 0 journaled in the arm B allsubstantially as shown and described.

5. In combination with the plate or casting, B and its arm B the gate orcutofi C'fjournaled therein, a rotatable feeding disk or plate F, ascraper-wheel E, located between the arm B and the plate or disk F andin rear of the gate or cut-off O, and means for imparting motion to theplate or disk and the rotatable wheel.

6. In combination with the frame or casting, having the throat J, therotatable feed-wheel I, journaled therein, and an adjustable U- shapedgate L, forming a continuation of one wall of the throat or opening J. I

7. I11 combination with the frame or casting, having a throat or hopperJ a rotatable feedwheel I, jonrnaled therein, a pivoted gate L, havingits pivot or center of motion located in advance of the center of thefeed wheel or disk, and means for adjusting the rear end of the gate orcut-off.

8. In combination with the frame or casting, provided with the throat orhopper J, the rotatable feed-wheels I and K, arranged for operationsubstantially as shown, and the adjustable U-shaped cut-off or gate L,forming one wall of the hopper or throat J.

9. In a force-feed distribut-er, the combination, with a frame orcasting having a throat or channel-J, of the pivoted U-shaped cut-off orgate hung in the throat or channel, substantially as shown, so as tomake the narrowest point in the channel in its perpendicular por tion,and to gradually increase in width in the horizontal portion. I

10. In a force-feed distributer, the combination, with a frame orcasting having a hopper or throat, of the rotatable feed-wheel I,journaled therein, and the scattering wheel or disk K, overlapping thefeed-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

I 1. In combination with the pinion G, having the hollow hub f, which isprovided with the holes or openings g, (one or more,) and lugs h, theshaft G, provided with a pin 1,, all substantially as shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

EDI/VIN D. MEAD. WVitnesses:

FRED A. WHEELER, J EAI I LA RUE BURNETT.

